First off i'd like to say that i'm not trying to upset anyone on here im just stating my opinion.

I think Richard Smith is a liability as a DC and is stunting the growth of all of our young highly drafted players on defense. I dont agree with his playcalling and I think we're way too predictable on defense. I believe that our defense is WAY too talented to have guys like Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon look like all pro qbs against them. I know Faggins is a liability as a CB 2 as well but our safeties are improved this year, im really impressed with CC Brown's improvement now that he's at his natural SS spot and I like Von Hutchin's, we really shouldn't be abused like we are in the passing game. Every team just matches their # 1 WR on Faggins' side and after getting burned numerous times they decide not to put DRob on that receiver but to play Faggins 10 yards off the ball and give up the first down on key 3rd down plays. Bennett is coming along real well though and I hope he takes over the CB 2 sooner than later.

As for our pass rush I believe a lot of it is just bad coaching, again we've got too much talent on this D-Line to not be getting consistent pressure. If we blitz it is so predictable the people in the mezzanine see it coming. For the most part we're playing preseason vanilla defenses and I am tired of it.

Who here agrees with me atleast somewhat? I'd like to see the smothering defense I know we're capable of having but I dont think we'll be seeing it as long as the coaching philosophy is the same on defense.

dalemurphy

10-18-2007, 12:16 AM

yes... I think Richard Smith is a below average DC... I don't think he's awful but I don't think he is an asset... My guess is he'll be replaced with Frank Bush or someone from the outside after this season- so I'm not too worried.

Fox

10-18-2007, 12:47 AM

Yea I'm a little worried myself. We invest all these draft picks and money into the defense, I want to be sure I have a coach who's going to get the most out of my investment. Richard Smith doesn't have a well established resume as a DC, so it's difficult to know if our defensive problems are more greatly attributed to the scheme or the personnel.

Goldensilence

10-18-2007, 02:15 AM

First off i'd like to say that i'm not trying to upset anyone on here im just stating my opinion.

I think Richard Smith is a liability as a DC and is stunting the growth of all of our young highly drafted players on defense. I dont agree with his playcalling and I think we're way too predictable on defense. I believe that our defense is WAY too talented to have guys like Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon look like all pro qbs against them. I know Faggins is a liability as a CB 2 as well but our safeties are improved this year, im really impressed with CC Brown's improvement now that he's at his natural SS spot and I like Von Hutchin's, we really shouldn't be abused like we are in the passing game. Every team just matches their # 1 WR on Faggins' side and after getting burned numerous times they decide not to put DRob on that receiver but to play Faggins 10 yards off the ball and give up the first down on key 3rd down plays. Bennett is coming along real well though and I hope he takes over the CB 2 sooner than later.

As for our pass rush I believe a lot of it is just bad coaching, again we've got too much talent on this D-Line to not be getting consistent pressure. If we blitz it is so predictable the people in the mezzanine see it coming. For the most part we're playing preseason vanilla defenses and I am tired of it.

Who here agrees with me atleast somewhat? I'd like to see the smothering defense I know we're capable of having but I dont think we'll be seeing it as long as the coaching philosophy is the same on defense.

The idea has been growing on me more as this year goes on. There are times I'm just not sure what Richard Smith wants to do defensively(not in a good way either).

Ron Rivera is just a LBs coach in SD now i believe........I'm just sayin.

dalemurphy

10-18-2007, 09:02 AM

The idea has been growing on me more as this year goes on. There are times I'm just not sure what Richard Smith wants to do defensively(not in a good way either).

Ron Rivera is just a LBs coach in SD now i believe........I'm just sayin.

I agree. I think the defense hasn't even approached an identity. Smith has been here 22 games now and I'm not sure what he's wanting or trying to put together. Based on the first month of the season, it looks like he may want a bit of a flex defense, AKA the Cowboys of the 70s. It appears he wants the front 4 to control the line of scrimmage first, attack the QB second, and he wants the backers to drop into coverage. I'd like to see a more attacking style- not even more blitzing neccessarily but a more aggressive philosophy with the front 4. I think we're going to be good offensively pretty soon, so, giving up the occasional big play isn't too bad a thing if you're also creating turnovers. More offensive posessions means more opportunities for a good offense to score- or, at least get into the red zone and then freak out!

Texans Horror

10-18-2007, 09:12 AM

I've had a problem with it since they hired Frank Bush as senior defensive assistant. Frank is the guy that Kubiak wanted as DC, but couldn't get to him, so he hired Richard Smith. If there aren't clear defined roles of who does what, I predicted some problems between the two. Based on the "lack of an identity" ideas and the often lukewarm coordinating, I think it is a result of two people being put in charge of the defense.

TheRealJoker

10-18-2007, 09:18 AM

I believe both our offense and defense lack identities due to there not being 1 person that makes the final call on gameplanning and playcalling. Sherman/Kubiak run the offense but their styles clash. It looks like Richard Smith and Frank Bush run the defense and they love vanilla I guess.

Only Joe Marciano is the unquestioned coordinator of a unit on this football team.

SheTexan

10-18-2007, 10:09 AM

I believe both our offense and defense lack identities due to there not being 1 person that makes the final call on gameplanning and playcalling. Sherman/Kubiak run the offense but their styles clash. It looks like Richard Smith and Frank Bush run the defense and they love vanilla I guess.

Only Joe Marciano is the unquestioned coordinator of a unit on this football team.

Exactly!! BUT, the ball falls in Kubiak's lap. It's HIS job to pull it all together, and he's way to bland so far, and has done a lousy job, JMO. He needs to toughen up and become the HEAD COACH or move on. It's his job to make all three units click on all cylinders.

Double Barrel

10-18-2007, 11:01 AM

Richard Smith is a hack! His playcalling is suspect and his schemes are vanilla, at best. His time has come and gone with this team, and like SheTexan said, the head coach had better be accountable and make the changes required to upgrade our defensive coaching if we hope to improve.

Porky

10-18-2007, 11:16 AM

I have to agree with the majority here. Richard Smith plain sucks.

And I couldn't believe that Kubes agrees with his philopshy regarding the way they play Dunta. He has Dunta cover a side of the field rather than a receiver. Could they make it any easier for the opposition to game plan Dunta out of the game. And then Kubes has the stones to get on the radio and say that's the way we play defense and we believe in that philosphy. What a total load of BS. Mcnair needs to grow a pair and tell them to have Dunta get on their #1 all day, and stick to him like glue, or go pack your bags.

On top of that, the D they play looks like most teams pre-season defense. There is nothing at all exotic that they do, maybe some stunts and so forth but they really play pretty plain vanilla. Someone's head needs to roll on some of this stuff if this continues all year.

Chance_C

10-18-2007, 11:34 AM

Every team just matches their # 1 WR on Faggins' side and after getting burned numerous times they decide not to put DRob on that receiver but to play Faggins 10 yards off the ball and give up the first down on key 3rd down plays. Bennett is coming along real well though and I hope he takes over the CB 2 sooner than later.

That is what bothers me the most. Why would we let them, as Porky said, effectively let teams gameplan Drob out like that. This is a boring defense and I don't understand why. When is the last time that we saw a corner blitz from DRob? Oh, when Capers and Fangio were here. I have never called for a coach's head but I want Smith gone. Let Bush have control. We need a new wrinkle.

Texans Horror

10-18-2007, 11:45 AM

I could swear they had D-Rob blitz during preseason, then abandoned it.

CoastalTexan

10-18-2007, 11:58 AM

Anyone know how Frank Bush runs his defense?

Dallas_Texan

10-19-2007, 06:27 PM

I couldn't agree more. Rick needs to get the boot, and to be honest, I'm going to lose a lot of faith in Kube's if he doesn't handle it this offseason. Surely he sees it too, and wants to wait until the offseason. But I think it would be great to see him make a point and fire him midseason and have Bush take over.

And whoever said earlier that Ron Rivera is an LB coach somewhere....If that's true, I'll second that nomination!! I thought he was a DC somewhere though?

awtysst

10-19-2007, 06:35 PM

And whoever said earlier that Ron Rivera is an LB coach somewhere....If that's true, I'll second that nomination!! I thought he was a DC somewhere though?

He is the SD LB coach right now. I would not mind going after him.

Errant Hothy

10-19-2007, 06:37 PM

So if Richard Smith sucks so much how did the Texans D make the huge turnaround that they did last season?

TexansLucky13

10-19-2007, 06:57 PM

I could swear they had D-Rob blitz during preseason, then abandoned it.

Dude is disruptive as hell when he blitzes. The only problem is that he is our only solid DB.

They should send the rookie, or something. We need to mix up the pass rush.... as if one existed anyways.

AnthonyE

10-19-2007, 07:04 PM

They should send the rookie, or something.

Send anybody! I don't care!

I just want to see a minimum of 5 players rushing at one time at least 5 plays a game rather than our usual 0.

spurstexanstros

10-20-2007, 12:47 AM

Ok this is all I want.... and I mean it...

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SOMEONE MAKE A STOP ON THIRD DOWN. IS IT TOO MUCH TO MAKE THE OTHER TEAM PUNT?

ok thats it. whoever can make that happen, hire him now.

Thank you- Jacoby Jones

real

10-20-2007, 11:42 AM

Anyone not worried about our defensive coaching ?

Errant Hothy

10-20-2007, 11:49 AM

Anyone not worried about our defensive coaching ?

Kinda. I'm defiantly on the fence when it comes to Smith. Currently the D is playing like crap that cannot be denied, but neither can the fact that Smith turned this defense around the last 10 weeks of the 06 season. So I'm not usre if he is the problem or not.

But I get the feeling that I am the only one who fells this way. :gun:

Fox

10-20-2007, 12:34 PM

I was thinking about why we always seem to get killed by screen passes and dump offs especially it seems on third downs. MJD had 59 yds on 4 catches against us, and Ronnie Brown had 40 on 5 catches. Does it have anything to do with playing so much man coverage? Our secondary is all watching their respective receiver running down field leaving the back in single coverage with one man to beat, and by the time our corners/safeties realize the pass was dumped off they're 15 yards down field and the back is moving upfield with blockers.

So I guess my question is, is man coverage vulnerable to screens/dumpoffs and if so do you think teams are trying to exploit that against us since we run so much man or is it just players like MJD and Brown are just being themselves when they get the ball. That's just been frustrating me the past couple weeks when they need to go 10 or 15 yards and we're not forcing them to throw lower percentage passes down field.

Vinny

10-20-2007, 12:47 PM

I was thinking about why we always seem to get killed by screen passes and dump offs especially it seems on third downs. MJD had 59 yds on 4 catches against us, and Ronnie Brown had 40 on 5 catches. Does it have anything to do with playing so much man coverage? Our secondary is all watching their respective receiver running down field leaving the back in single coverage with one man to beat, and by the time our corners/safeties realize the pass was dumped off they're 15 yards down field and the back is moving upfield with blockers.

So I guess my question is, is man coverage vulnerable to screens/dumpoffs and if so do you think teams are trying to exploit that against us since we run so much man or is it just players like MJD and Brown are just being themselves when they get the ball. That's just been frustrating me the past couple weeks when they need to go 10 or 15 yards and we're not forcing them to throw lower percentage passes down field.
I think it is part scheme and part a lack of quality in our outside linebackers.

real

10-20-2007, 12:59 PM

It has to do with having outside LB's with no range....

If the play isn't directly in front of our OLB's the chances that they make a good play on the ball carrier is slim...

Demeco is the only LB that makes plays all over the field...

GP

10-20-2007, 10:23 PM

So if Richard Smith sucks so much how did the Texans D make the huge turnaround that they did last season?

Because he sucked so bad the first 6 games of the season that he had to actually start taking (drum roll, please.....) a few RISKS every now and then.

We're in year 2 of Richard Smith, and it looks like last year: Plain vanilla defensive playcalling, with little or no risk, and getting torched all game long.

Only difference this year is this: We have a QB who is capable of bailing out the defense (See "Carolina Panthers game" for more information).

First game of the season is the only game in which all facets of the team seemed to be on the same page and rolling with confidence.

It's been a steady decline since then, even on the offensive side of the ball.

GP

10-20-2007, 10:26 PM

I was thinking about why we always seem to get killed by screen passes and dump offs especially it seems on third downs. MJD had 59 yds on 4 catches against us, and Ronnie Brown had 40 on 5 catches. Does it have anything to do with playing so much man coverage? Our secondary is all watching their respective receiver running down field leaving the back in single coverage with one man to beat, and by the time our corners/safeties realize the pass was dumped off they're 15 yards down field and the back is moving upfield with blockers.

So I guess my question is, is man coverage vulnerable to screens/dumpoffs and if so do you think teams are trying to exploit that against us since we run so much man or is it just players like MJD and Brown are just being themselves when they get the ball. That's just been frustrating me the past couple weeks when they need to go 10 or 15 yards and we're not forcing them to throw lower percentage passes down field.

I chalk it up to a singular failure of NOT shadowing the running back. All you have to do is dedicate a LB to the RB...his only job is to track and shadow the RB all game long.

Getting beat on so many screen passes and little RB check-downs is embarrassing if you ask me. This is the NFL, not 2-A High School football.

Then again, I have seen some High School football teams actually score after having the ball 1st and goal at the 2.........so what do I know.

This team is confoosing.

Fox

10-20-2007, 11:15 PM

I chalk it up to a singular failure of NOT shadowing the running back. All you have to do is dedicate a LB to the RB...his only job is to track and shadow the RB all game long.

Getting beat on so many screen passes and little RB check-downs is embarrassing if you ask me. This is the NFL, not 2-A High School football.

Then again, I have seen some High School football teams actually score after having the ball 1st and goal at the 2.........so what do I know.

This team is confoosing.

lol, Kris Brown starts warming up for a field goal try anytime we get tackled inside the five. Our power run blocking is pretty pathetic.

infantrycak

10-21-2007, 12:59 AM

lol, Kris Brown starts warming up for a field goal try anytime we get tackled inside the five. Our power run blocking is pretty pathetic.

LOL--Kris Brown starts limbering up anytime we cross the 50 and has done so for 5 seasons. Nothing there to comment on other than him being a professional.

quicksilver

10-21-2007, 02:04 AM

From what I've seen and read last season and this season, it is Kubiak holding back Richard Smith's defense. Kubiak says we want to get our pressure from the front four when the opposing offense passes. Kubiak says we're using Robinson exactly the way we want to use him.

It was when Kubiak realized his plan for our defense wasn't working 3-6 games into last season that he loosened the reins on Richard Smith and we began applying pressure with varying blitzes. What surprises me is that after the coaching staff did their first quarterly self-assessment for this season, Kubiak didn't come to the same conclusions he did last year.

TexansLucky13

10-21-2007, 02:35 AM

From what I've seen and read last season and this season, it is Kubiak holding back Richard Smith's defense. Kubiak says we want to get our pressure from the front four when the opposing offense passes. Kubiak says we're using Robinson exactly the way we want to use him.

It was when Kubiak realized his plan for our defense wasn't working 3-6 games into last season that he loosened the reins on Richard Smith and we began applying pressure with varying blitzes. What surprises me is that after the coaching staff did their first quarterly self-assessment for this season, Kubiak didn't come to the same conclusions he did last year.

Yea, that is pretty interesting. Kubiak is on to something when he focuses on allowing the front four to do the pass rushing.... but the guys just aren't there yet. A team that can generate a good pass rush from their front four will be dominate. That's what Kubiak is looking for.

Unfortunately, our guys just haven't lived up to their potential to this point. I'm not sure when the "make or break" time comes for these guys... but I doubt it is three seasons from now. They need to get to work.

Texanmike02

10-21-2007, 06:27 AM

Well if you ask me its a combination. Rick Smith is no genius but he's not working with top level talent either. Our OLBs are weak, and our secondary is way below average... other than Dante. I'm not sure what more you can ask of a DC when the only thing he has to work with is a DL, 1lb and 1db.

We knew coming into the season that our DBs were awful. The fact that CC looks better at SS shouldn't fool us into thinking our DB's are even close to average. If there are two things you can't hide in this league it is slow CBs and mistake prone FSs. Throw in the fact that we are weak at OLB and I'm not sure what you expect out of this defense. They stop the run better than average.. save the Jags game. And that's the foundation for a good defense. I mean if Smith goes.. I won't be heartbroken... but if he stays AND we add some talent I'm ok with that.

Basically I'm not ok with the current situation. I think that adding talent will do more than adding a DC right now. If you have to change one or the other I say get talent first.

Mike

GrandeDavid

10-21-2007, 08:25 AM

I agree with you. I'm viewing today as a critical juncture in the legitimacy of this defense as, at the very least, a rising defense, especially the pass rush. I'm looking for big results from Mario Williams today and if I don't see them, I'll really start to questions the schematics, coaching and not just the players' hearts and talent.

Vinny

10-21-2007, 08:42 AM

We've tuned the entire roster over since he came here....it's been pretty remarkable really. I think we only have 15 players from when he got here still left on the squad. It's going to take us two more drafts to really have a top roster from starters to key reserves, but next year we should be on the cusp of being a team to deal with year in-year out.

I'm a little worried about our ability to stop the run today...if we can't stop the run we are going to lose....got my fingers crossed. Some good news though...the Titans have not run the ball well the last two weeks and Brown is out.

BattleRedToro

10-21-2007, 09:03 AM

I'd say the buck stops at Kubiak. We don't know whether Richard Smith is over his head or being held back, but either way the fault lies with Kubiak. If Smith is over his head then he shouldn't have been hired in the first place. Despite Kubiak not being able to get his first choice before settling on Smith there were still many good Defensive Coordinators available not only when Smith was hired but before this season started as well. If Smith is being held back by Kubiak, then I think the problem is even worse because who's to say that Kubiak won't do the same thing to the next DC, so I hope that Smith is just over his head.

dickieb

10-21-2007, 06:05 PM

WTF - can I get a blitz at the end of the game. It worked earlier in the game with Demeco's TD. Absolute bullsh*t playcalling. Makes me want to puke. You have to make the QB make a quick rushed decision - not give him all day. It's not like our front four had been putting a lot of pressure on Collins. It just makes me sick. He will find the one on one coverage and burn you anyways - why not man up and send everyone to the QB. Our chances would be better if we had blitzed maybe the QB gets sacked, makes a poor throw, throws a pick, or worst case he burns you but that happened anyway. I would rather bring the heat and make them burn us than give them all day to throw I fu^&ing absolutley hate this vanilla playcalling it is bull$hit and we deserved to lose this game anyway, but it really stings to give it up like this!

joedinkle

10-21-2007, 06:51 PM

We did blitz...they picked it up.

Maddict5

10-21-2007, 07:01 PM

and collins got rid of it in 3 seconds- if he had held onto it for a tiny bit longer, mario would've nearly bullrushed the lt into him

Honoring Earl 34

10-21-2007, 07:08 PM

We did blitz...they picked it up.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d803788ac

dickieb

10-21-2007, 10:22 PM

Yeah, my bad. I did see the replay. I wished they would have sent them straight through the gaps instead of pulling. During the live game it looked as if Collins had the ball forever, but he got rid of the ball quick. We just got burned.